Use a drill driver for screws, wood and thin metal, an impact drill for wall plugs in brick and plaster, and a rotary hammer (SDS Plus) for RCC concrete, anchor bolts and wall chasing. At Punjab Tools that means about Rs 4,200 for a drill driver, Rs 7,000–8,000 for a corded impact drill and Rs 7,000–17,000 for a rotary hammer. In the rotary hammer vs impact drill decision, the deciding question is simple: are you drilling brick, or concrete?
Rotary hammer vs impact drill vs drill driver at a glance
| Feature | Drill driver | Impact drill | Rotary hammer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hammer action | None | Two ridged plates click against each other | A piston drives a striker into the bit |
| Bits | Round or hex shank | Round shank in a 13mm chuck | SDS Plus |
| Concrete capacity on our models | Not for concrete | Up to 13mm (Sared SR-EID-J1301) | 26mm to 28mm |
| Chisel mode | No | No | Yes |
| Clutch for screws | Yes, 18+1 settings on our 12V kit | No | No |
| Best for | Screws, furniture, wood, thin metal | Wall plugs in brick and plaster | RCC, anchor bolts, wall chasing, tile removal |
| Price at Punjab Tools | Rs 4,200 | Rs 7,000 – 8,000 | Rs 7,000 – 17,000 |
Prices are Punjab Tools prices, October 2026 — check the product page for today's price. A 21V cordless hammer drill sits between the first two columns: it has a clutch for screws and a light hammer mode for brick.
How each tool works
Drill driver
A drill driver spins the bit and nothing else. Its clutch slips once a screw is tight, so you do not strip the head or crack the wood. Most are cordless; the 12V kit we stock has a 10mm keyless chuck and 18+1 torque settings. It is the right tool for furniture, cabinets, hinges and holes in wood, plastic and thin metal, and the wrong tool for any masonry.
Impact drill (hammer drill)
Inside an impact drill, two ridged plates ride over each other as the chuck turns, tapping the bit forward thousands of times a minute. That chipping action, combined with your push, breaks up brick and plaster quickly. Because the hammering depends on how hard you lean, it slows down sharply in dense concrete and is tiring to use overhead.
A note on names: in Pakistan "impact drill" means this hammer drill. It is not the same as an impact driver or impact wrench, which deliver twisting blows to drive screws and bolts. If that is what you need, see our cordless impact wrench guide.
Rotary hammer
A rotary hammer uses a motor-driven piston that compresses air and fires a striker into the back of the bit. Each blow carries far more energy, measured in joules: 2.7 J on the GBM 2-26 RE and 4.5 J on the Dartek 02-26R. The bit does the work and you simply guide it. Rotary hammers also have a chisel-only mode that stops the rotation, turning the tool into a light breaker.
Drill for brick wall vs concrete: matching the tool to Pakistani buildings
Most Pakistani houses have brick walls finished with plaster, plus an RCC roof slab, beams, columns and lintels. That mix is why the choice of drill matters.
- Plain brick and plaster: an impact drill is the right drill for a brick wall. The 6mm or 8mm holes most wall plugs (gitti) need take seconds.
- Hidden concrete: near the ceiling, above doors and windows, and at corners, a "brick" wall often hides a beam, lintel or column. If progress suddenly stops and the dust changes from reddish brick dust to fine grey powder, you have hit concrete.
- Steel bars (saria): if the bit stops dead and you feel metal, stop. Do not force it or try to cut through. Move the hole a few centimetres instead, because the steel is part of the structure.
- Tiles: drill through glazed tiles in drill-only mode, then switch on the hammer once you reach the brick behind.
- Overhead into the roof slab: use a rotary hammer, and wear eye protection against falling dust.
Hammer drill for concrete: when an impact drill is enough
A corded impact drill can drill concrete. The Sared SR-EID-J1301 is rated for 13mm holes in concrete, and for a few 6mm or 8mm holes in a concrete wall it will get the job done, just more slowly than a rotary hammer.
This is where the rotary hammer vs impact drill gap really shows. An impact drill is not enough when you need dozens of holes, holes larger than about 10mm, holes overhead in a roof slab, or any wall chasing. Signs you are overworking an impact drill include a hot body, a burning smell from the vents and a bit that changes colour from heat. At that point you are wearing out both the drill and the bit.
Shop · 13mm impact drill
SDS Plus drill in Pakistan: what a rotary hammer adds
In local markets, any SDS Plus rotary hammer is often called a "Hilti machine", whatever its brand. Here is what you get for the extra weight.
- SDS Plus bits. They slide into the chuck and lock without a key, and they move back and forth slightly so the hammer blow reaches the tip. Ordinary round-shank bits do not fit without an SDS Plus to keyed-chuck adapter.
- Three modes. Drill only for wood and metal, hammer drill for concrete and brick, and chisel only for wall chasing (jhari) and tile removal.
- Capacity. Every rotary hammer we stock is rated for 26mm to 28mm holes in concrete, enough for anchor bolts, AC brackets and through-holes.
Our range starts with the GBM 2-26 RE Professional Rotary Hammer Drill and the Hilti Style HL2-28 Professional Rotary Hammer Drill at Rs 7,000 to Rs 7,500. These names describe the designs they follow; they are not made or backed by Bosch or Hilti. At the top, the Dartek 02-26R lists 1050W, 940 RPM, 4,500 blows per minute and 4.5 J.
For heavy chasing and tile stripping across a whole house, consider the Mokito 0810 Heavy Duty Concrete Demolition Hammer (Rs 12,000). It is a chisel-only breaker with a 1050W motor, 2,900 blows per minute and a 17mm hex shank. It cannot drill holes.
Shop · rotary hammer
Dartek
Dartek 02-26R Heavy Duty 1050W Electric Rotary Hammer Drill | 26mm 3-in-1 SDS Plus Machine
MAX
MAX 26mm Heavy Duty Rotary Hammer Drill | 3-Mode SDS Plus Concrete Drill
Dartek
Dartek PRH15 Professional 26mm Rotary Hammer Drill - 3-Mode Heavy Duty Drill Machine
Which one do you need? Job-by-job guide
| Job | Best tool | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Curtain rods, shelves or mirrors on a brick wall | Impact drill | 6mm to 8mm holes in brick take seconds |
| TV wall mount on a brick wall | Impact drill | Same holes, with the plugs supplied with the mount |
| Split AC outdoor unit brackets | Rotary hammer | Anchor holes often land in concrete and carry a heavy load |
| Anchor bolts in a roof slab or beam | Rotary hammer | Dense RCC, often drilled overhead |
| Chasing walls for conduit or pipes | Rotary hammer in chisel mode, or a demolition hammer | Chisel action without rotation |
| Removing old bathroom tiles | Rotary hammer in chisel mode, or a demolition hammer | Fast, with far less effort than a hammer and chisel |
| Furniture, cabinets and hinges | Drill driver | The clutch stops screws over-tightening |
| Holes in steel sheet or angle iron | Impact drill in drill-only mode, or a drill driver | Rotation only, with HSS bits |
| Work where there is no power | 21V cordless hammer drill | Battery powered, with a light hammer mode |
Can one tool do everything?
Not quite. A rotary hammer in drill-only mode can drill wood and steel with a chuck adapter, but it is heavy and has no clutch for screws. An impact drill can drive screws in reverse and at low speed, but without a clutch it is easy to strip heads. A 21V cordless hammer drill comes closest to an all-rounder, with a clutch and a hammer mode, but it is slow in concrete. Our best cordless drill guide compares those kits.
That is why many tradespeople own two tools. Sensible pairs at Punjab Tools prices:
- Home: Sared SR-EID-J1301 impact drill (Rs 7,000) plus the 12V Compact Cordless Drill (Rs 4,200), Rs 11,200 in total.
- Electrician on a budget: GBM 2-26 RE rotary hammer (Rs 7,000) plus the 12V Compact Cordless Drill (Rs 4,200), Rs 11,200 in total.
- Contractor: Dartek 02-26R rotary hammer (Rs 17,000) plus the Sared SR-CD-2101-BL brushless cordless drill (Rs 12,000), Rs 29,000 in total.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Leaning hard on a rotary hammer. Heavy pressure does not drill faster; it slows the hammer action. Let the tool do the work.
- Making an impact drill do a rotary hammer's job. A full day of RCC holes or wall chasing will overheat it.
- Leaving hammer mode on for tiles. It cracks glazed tiles. Drill the tile first, then hammer the brick.
- Using the wrong bits. Wood and HSS bits will not drill masonry, and blunt masonry bits make any drill struggle.
- Drilling blind near switches and sockets. Hidden wiring usually runs straight up, down or across from switches and sockets, so avoid drilling in line with them.
- Skipping protection. Concrete and brick dust is harmful to breathe. Wear a mask and safety glasses; our power tool safety guide covers the rest.
Our recommendations
- Best impact drill for brick walls: Sared SR-EID-J1301 Professional Impact Drill, Rs 7,000. 13mm chuck, hammer and drill modes, reversible.
- Best budget rotary hammer: GBM 2-26 RE Professional Rotary Hammer Drill, Rs 7,000. SDS Plus, three modes, 2.7 J.
- Best mid-range rotary hammer: MAX 26mm Heavy Duty Rotary Hammer Drill, Rs 15,000, with copper winding, a 360-degree side handle and a depth rod.
- Best rotary hammer for daily concrete work: Dartek 02-26R Heavy Duty Rotary Hammer Drill, Rs 17,000. 1050W and 4.5 J.
- Best drill driver: 12V Compact Cordless Drill & Screwdriver Kit, Rs 4,200.
- Best cordless all-rounder: Sared SR-CD-2101-BL Brushless Cordless Impact Drill, Rs 12,000.
For every price in one place, see our drill machine price in Pakistan list, or browse the full range on our drills and hammers page. We deliver nationwide from Lahore with cash on delivery.
